Metro
Lagos CNG Bus Fire Leaves One Passenger Seriously Injured
A Lagos CNG bus fire at Berger Bus Stop leaves one passenger severely burnt, while LASTMA rescues 17 others from the burning vehicle
A Compressed Natural Gas-powered commercial bus carrying 18 people caught fire following a reported gas explosion at Berger Bus Stop on the Lagos-bound section of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, leaving one male passenger with severe burn injuries while the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) rescued the other 17 occupants.
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The incident involved a bus with registration number EKY 798 YK, which was travelling from the Mowe-Ibafo axis towards Lagos when the fire reportedly erupted, triggering panic among passengers and motorists on the busy expressway.
LASTMA confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Wednesday by its Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, Adebayo Taofiq.
According to the authority, its emergency response personnel quickly mobilised to the scene and evacuated 17 occupants, including the driver, without injuries.
However, one male passenger seated towards the rear of the vehicle sustained severe burns during the fire.
The authority said: “Regrettably, one male passenger, who was seated at the rear section of the vehicle, sustained severe burn injuries during the inferno.”
The injured passenger was subsequently evacuated to the Lagos State Trauma and Emergency Centre at the Toll Gate for urgent medical attention.
The rescue operation involved several emergency agencies, with the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service deploying personnel and firefighting equipment to extinguish the flames and prevent the fire from spreading to nearby vehicles or infrastructure.
Officers of the Ojodu Police Division also provided security at the scene, maintained order and supported the emergency response.
Commending the operation, LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, praised the authority’s personnel for their courage, professionalism and prompt intervention.
Bakare-Oki said the incident demonstrated the importance of rapid emergency response and effective collaboration among agencies when dealing with road emergencies.
He also urged commercial transport operators, particularly those operating CNG-powered vehicles, to prioritise regular professional inspections, comply with safety requirements and ensure proper maintenance of gas storage cylinders and delivery systems.
The incident has renewed attention on safety requirements surrounding Nigeria’s growing adoption of CNG-powered transportation as an alternative to petrol and diesel.
The Federal Government introduced its Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas in 2023 as part of efforts to reduce transportation costs following the removal of petrol subsidies.
The programme has since expanded to include electric vehicles under the Presidential Initiative on CNG and Electric Vehicles.
Although CNG offers potential cost and environmental benefits, its safe use in vehicles depends on approved conversion equipment, professional installation and routine maintenance.
In September 2026, the Presidential Initiative on CNG and Electric Vehicles warned motorists against unauthorised vehicle conversions following a separate incident involving an uncertified gas cylinder in Abuja.
The initiative stressed that vehicle owners should use NADDC-accredited conversion centres and cylinders and kits certified by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON).
SON has also established technical standards covering CNG conversion kits, vehicle safety, electrical connections, storage cylinders and refuelling facilities.
However, authorities have not yet released the findings of an investigation into the cause of Wednesday’s Berger incident.
It would therefore be premature to attribute the fire to a defective cylinder, poor installation or inadequate maintenance.
For the injured passenger, immediate medical attention remains the priority, while the circumstances surrounding the explosion will be important in determining whether any safety breaches occurred.
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The incident serves as a reminder that the expansion of alternative-fuel transport must go hand in hand with effective safety inspections, regulatory enforcement and emergency preparedness.
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The Federal Government has threatened to shut down the Lagos Coastal Highway within two weeks if motorists and other road users fail to comply with safety regulations and other directives aimed at curbing dangerous activities along the route.
The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State, Olufemi Dare, issued the warning on Monday during an inspection of the Lagos section of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, citing persistent safety violations, vandalism and other illegal activities.
Dare said the directive followed concerns raised by the Minister of Works, David Umahi, with the ministry prepared to return and close the highway if there was no significant improvement within the two-week period.
The controller identified overspeeding as one of the major safety concerns, noting that some motorists were driving at speeds of up to 120km/h despite the 30km/h speed limit displayed along the highway.
He stressed that the road remained under construction, particularly around bridge sections, making strict adherence to the speed limit necessary to protect motorists, construction workers and other road users.
Dare also warned truck and articulated vehicle operators against parking on the highway, saying the practice was creating additional safety risks. Authorities are expected to tow vehicles found parked illegally along the route.
Illegal U-turns are also prohibited, while commercial motorcycles and tricycles have been banned from using the coastal highway. The government further announced measures against roadside trading, hawking, animal grazing and illegal settlements along the route.
The government’s concerns extend beyond traffic violations. Dare disclosed that about five kilometres of ClearVu fencing had been removed, while concrete drainage covers covering approximately 18 kilometres had reportedly been vandalised and taken away.
He said the authorities were considering replacing vulnerable sections of the fencing with concrete barriers and deploying CCTV cameras to strengthen surveillance along the highway.
To improve security, the government has also approved the recruitment of 40 coastal guards for the first section of the highway. The guards are expected to be drawn from communities along the route and work with the police to provide additional surveillance.
The Lagos section of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway covers about 103 kilometres, divided into two sections of approximately 47 kilometres and 56 kilometres. Several major bridges remain under construction across the two sections.
Dare said the highway should ordinarily not have been opened to traffic before completion of the bridges, but its use has continued as an alternative route for motorists.
The government has therefore urged motorists, residents and other users of the highway to comply with the prescribed speed limit and other regulations, warning that enforcement would be intensified.
The proposed shutdown would affect the Lagos section of the coastal highway if the authorities determine that safety conditions have not improved within the stipulated two weeks.
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